Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 20
Verses 1-30
CHAPTER 20
Pr 20:1-30.
1. mocker—scorner. Such men are made by wine.
strong drink—made by spicing wine (compare Isa 5:11, 22); and it may include wine.
raging—or boisterous as a drunkard.
deceived—literally, "erring," or reeling.
Verses 2
2. (Compare Pr 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Ro 13:2).
Verses 3
3. to cease from strife—or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life.
fool … meddling—(Pr 17:14).
Verses 4
4. shall … beg—literally, "ask" (in this sense, Ps 109:10).
Verses 5
5. Counsel … water—that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4; Ps 13:2). The wise can discern well.
Verses 6
6. Boasters are unreliable.
goodness—or, "kind disposition."
Verses 7
7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pr 4:26; Ps 112:1, 2).
Verses 8
8. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.
Verses 9
9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ec 7:20).
Verses 10
10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pr 11:1; 16:11).
Verses 11
11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).
Verses 12
12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Ps 94:9).
Verses 13
13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pr 6:9; 10:11).
lest … poverty—literally, "be deprived of inheritance."
Verses 14
14. when … his way—implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.
Verses 15
15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pr 3:14-16).
Verses 16
16. Take his garment—implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness.
a strange woman—by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.
Verses 17
17. Bread … sweet—either as unlawfully (Pr 9:17) or easily obtained.
mouth … gravel—well expresses the pain and grief given at last.
Verses 18
18. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.
Verses 19
19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets.
flattereth … lips—(compare Margin; Pr 1:10).
meddle … him—literally, "join," or "associate with."
Verses 20
20. his lamp—(Compare Pr 13:9; 24:20).
Verses 21
21. gotten hastily—contrary to God's providence (Pr 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pr 20:17).
Verses 22
22. (Compare Ps 27:14; Ro 12:17-19).
Verses 23
23. (Compare Pr 20:10; 11:1).
Verses 24
24. Man's goings—literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man."
a man—any common man.
understand—or, "perceive."
Verses 25
25. devoureth … holy—or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.
Verses 26
26. (Compare Pr 20:8).
bringeth … over them—The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Am 1:3).
Verses 27
27. The spirit … Lord—Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5; Pr 18:8, 17; 1Co 2:11).
Verses 28
28. (Compare Pr 3:3; 16:6, 12).
Verses 29
29. The glory of young men … the beauty of old men—Each age has its peculiar excellence (Pr 16:31).
Verses 30
30. blueness—literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter.
stripes … belly—So punishment provides healing of soul (Pr 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871). Public domain.